Washing machine



Aug. 14, 1923.

E. KERRIGAN WASHING MACHINE Filed June 22. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Fig.1. I

\nvenToT'.

Edward L. Kerri an hy7au Aug. 14, 1923.

1,464,611 E. L. KERRIGAN vmsnnm mcmua Filed June 22, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Li Z 43 Fig. 4

47 'nvenTor. 48 5 Edward L.Kerrigon 43 V 0 by%m9wultkM Patented Aug. 14, 1923.

UNITED STATES EDWARD L. KERRIGAN, OF ARLINGTON,

ELECTRON CORPORATION, OF BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed June 22, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. Knnmenn, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Arlington, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an improvement in Washing Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to washing machines adapted forhousehold use and it has for its object to provide a novel washing machine of this type which is constructed so that it can be set into and operated in the ordinary set tub with which most houses are equipped.

One advantage of this construction is that a washing machine adapted to be set into a set tub can be manufactured and sold at a less price than one which includes in its construction the tub for holding the water.

Other objects of the invention are to pro vide a novel washing machine of this type which is constructed so that it can be used equally well in set tuhsof diiierent sizes; which is so constructed that the cylinder will be automatically reversed after a pre determined number of revoiutions in each direction; which is simple in construction and in which the operative parts are placed so that they do not interfere either with the drawing of water into the tub or with placing the clothes into the cylinder or removing them therefrom and which has other a vantageous features all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a set tub equipped with my washing machine, the Washing machine being shown partly in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the nism for the cylinder.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44, Fig. 2.

In the drawin 1 indicates a set tub such as is commonly ound in houses for laundry purposes, said tub having the ends a and the usual discharge spout 2, and 3 indicates driving mecha- Serial No. 479,468.-

one of the faucet-s for supplying water to the set tub.

My improved washing machine is pr vided with a cylinder 5 in which the clothes are washed and this cylinder may have any suitable or usual construction. It is shown as provided with a removable section 6, which when removed provides an opening through which the clothes may he intro duced into the cylinder or removed therefrom, said section or door (3 being detach-ably secured in place by any suitable means. The cylinder is shown as having a perforated wall and as provided on its interior with longitudinally-extcnding ribs 7 to assist in washing the clothes.

This cylinder is 'ournalled at its ends in two suspenders H, 9 which are secured at their upper ends to side rails l0 and 11 respectively that are adapted to rest on the top of the ends a of the tub. The suspenders 8 and 9 are preferably rigidly secured to the rails and the rail 10 is provided with the lip or flange 12 which overlies the outer face of one end wall 4 and cooperates with the suspender S to hold the rail in position. The other rail ii is provided with a depending lip 12% which is spaced from the suspender 9 a distance greater than the thickness of the end wall at of the tub, said lip 13 having a clamping screw 1.4 screw-threaded thereinto which is adapted to he clamped against. the outer face of the tub.

The two rails 10 and 11 are connected together by means of a bridge plate '15 which extends across the top of the tub and on which is mounted the driving mechanism for rotating the cylinder 5.

Said cylinder 5 has at one end a trunnion 16 which is journalled in the suspcnder S and at the other end it has another trunnion '17 which is journalled in the suspcndcr 9.

T will preferably drive the cylinder from an electric motor '18 which is mounted on the bridge plate 15, said motor being connected to the cylinder by suitable reducing gearing which also will preferably be constructed so as to reverse the rotation of the cylinder automatically. at predetermined intervals.

While the particular character of the gearing between the motor and the drum may vary without departing from my invention, I have illustrated in the drawing a, simple and practical train of gearing.

MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF The motor shaft 19 meshes with and drives the Worm gear 20 fast on a shaft 21 carried in a suitable frame 22 which rises from the bridge 15. This shaft 21 has a beveled gear 23 thereon which meshes with and drives a beveled gear 24 on a shaft 25 also journalled in the frame 22. This shaft 25 is connected through suitable gearing, which presently will described, with a shaft 26 journalled in the frame and having fast thereon a beveled gear 27 which meshes with and drives a beveled gear 28 on a vertical shaft 29 that extends down through the bridge plate 15. This vertical shaft 29 is geared to the cylinder 5 in some appropriate way and in the construction herein shown said shaft has a beveled gear 30 at its lower end which meshes with and drives a beveled gear 31 fast on the cylinder 5. Any other suitable driving connection between the shaft 29 and the drum 5 may be employed however without departing from the invention. The shaft 29 is shown as journalled at its lower end in a bearing 32 carried by the suspender 9.

W'hile any suitable gearing between the shafts 25 and 26 may be employed 1 will make use of a gearing by which the direction of rotation of the cylinder may be reversed.

In the construction herein shown the shaft 25 has splined thereto a clutch member 33 which is adapted to have a clutching engagelnent with either of two clutch members 34 and 35 that are loose on the shaft 25. Since the clutch member 33 is splined to the shaft 25 it will rotate with the shaft 25 and it will operate either clutch member 34- or 35 dependent on its position on the shaft 25.

The clutch member 34 is rigid with a gear 36 that is loosely mounted on the shaft 25 and which meshes with and drives a gear 3? fast on the shaft 26. and as a result when the clutch member 33 is in'clutching engagement with the clutch member 34 the shaft 26 will be driven from the shaft 25 through the clutch members 33, 34, gear 36, and gear 37.

The clutch member 35 is rigid with a QQZLI 38 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 25 and which meshes with an intermediate gear 39. that in turn meshes with a gear 40 on the shaft 26.

hen, therefore. the clutch member is shifted to engage the clutch member 35 then the shaft 26 will be driven from the shaft 25 through the gears 38, 39, 40 and when thus driven it will rotate in a direction op posite to that in which it rotates when driven through the gears 36. 37.

Means are provided for automatically shifting the clutch member 33 periodically from one clutch member 34 to the other 35 and to accomplish this reversing of the clutch I have provided the following mechanism. The clutch member 33 is formed with a groove 41 in which received a pin 42 carried by a reversing lever 43 that is pivoted to the frame 22 at at. the upper end of the lever 43 being provided with a handle 45 by which it may be manuallyloperatcd. The lower end of the lever 43 extends beyond the pivot all and is provided with a pin or projection 46 which is received in the groove 4.? formed in a sleeve 48 that is 'screw-threadml on the screw-tlu-eaded shaft il the latter being rotatably mounted in suitable bearings formed on the frame 22. This shaft 49 has a gear 50 fast thereon which meshes with a gear 51 fast on the shaft 26 so that the shaft 49 is driven from the shaft 26.

The sleeve 48 is of suitable length and the slot 47 extends approximately the full length thereof. The engagement of the pin 46 with the groove 47 prevents the sleeve 48 from rotating so that the rotation of the shaft 1-9 will advance the sleeve longitudinally of the shaft in one direction or the other.

The parts are so arranged that when the clutch member 33 is in clutching engagement with the clutch member 34 as shown in F igs. l and 2, the rotation of the shaft 4-9 will cause the sleeve 49 to move to the left Figs. 1 and 2. \Vhen the sleeve has moved to the left sulliciently to bring the right hand end of the groove 47 against the projection 46. then further movement of the sleeve will shift the lever 43 and disenga ge the clutch 33 from the clutch 34 and cause said clutch to engage the clutch 3:") thus reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft 26 and also the cylinder 5. As soon as the shaft 26 reverses its rotation the sleeve nut 48 will begin to move towards the right Figs. 1 and 2 and when it has moved far enough to bring the left hand end of the groove 47 against the projection 46 then'the clutch lever will be again shifted restoring the parts to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

This reversing operation will thus occur periodically and automatically. The gears may be proportioned so that the cylinder will reverse after any pre-r letermined manber of revolutions. There is space enough between the clutch members 34 and 35 so that the clutch member 33 may be placed in intermediate or neutral position in which it out of mesh with both clutch members 34 and 35 and when in this position then the vlinder .7 may be turned by hand to bring the door 6 into proper position so that it can be opened to introdnce clothes therieinto into the cylinder or remove them therefrom.

Tt will be noted that the bridge member '15 is relatively narrow and that there is plenty of space between the front edge thereof and the front of the tub to provide the necessary access to the interior of the cylinder when the door 6 is removed and therefore this bridge piece and the driving mechanism mounted thereon does not interfere at all with the introduction of the clothes into the cylinder or their removal therefrom.

The rear edge of the bridge piece is also spaced a suitable distance from the back board .310 through which the faucet 3 extends and therefore there is ample space in the rear of the bridge to fill the tub from the faucet.

I will preferably provide a removable cover 52 to fill the space between the bridge 15 and the back board 510 and will also provide a removable cover 53 to close the tab on the front of the bridge.- This cover 53 is formed with a depending flange 54 at its front edge which has a height equal to the vertical dimension of the rails 10 and it so that when the cover is in place the flange 54 will close the space between the top edge of the front of the set tub and said cover. These covers 52 and 53 may conveniently be Wooden covers which can be readily laid into position or removed as circumstances require.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine adapted for use in an ordinary set tub, the combination with two supporting rails to rest on the top edge of the set tub, a suspender depending from each rail. a cylinder journalled in the suspcnders a bridge member supported on the rails. a motor mounted on the bridge memher. and gearing connecting said motor with the cylinder.

2. In a washing machine adapted for use in a set tub. the combination with two supporting rails to rest on the top of the end walls of the set tub, of a suspender depending from each rail, a cylinder journalled in the suspenders and situated within the set tub, a bridge member supported on said rails and extending from one to the other, the rear edge of the bridge member being separated from the back of the tub to allow Water to flow from the faucet into the tub and the front edge of the bridge member being spaced from the front of the tub to allow clothes to be introduced into or removed from the cylinder, and means mounted on the bridge member for rotating the cylinder.

3. In a washing machine adapted for use in a set tub. the combination with two supporting rails to rest on the tops of the end walls of the set tub. of a suspcnder depending from each rail, a cylinder journalled in said suspenders and situated within the set tub, a bridge member extending from one rail to the other, a motor mounted on the bridge member. a vertical shaft journalled at one end in one suspcnder and at the other end in said bridge member, gearing connecting said shaft to the cylinder, and gearing connecting said shaft to the motor.

a. In a washing machine adapted for use in a set tub. the combination with two sup porting rails to rest on the tops of the end Walls of the set tub, of a suspender depending from each rail, a cylinder journalled in said suspenders and situated within the set tub. a bridge member extending from one rail to the other, a motor mounted on the bridge member, a vertical shaft journalled at one end in one suspender and at the other end in said bridge member, gearing connecting said shaft to the cylinder. reversible gearing connecting said shaft to said motor, and means for automatically reversing said gearing periodically.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EDWARD L. KERRIGAN. 

